Minister for Youth and Sports Laisenia Tuitubou says that the government through the Fiji Sports Commission had assisted Commonwealth Gold Medalist and weightlifter Eileen Cikamatana a scholarship since 2016 worth $41,761.
Tuitubou was responding to SODELPA MP, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu’s question in Parliament on what sort of assistance is given to weightlifting after their recent gold medal win at the Commonwealth Games.
Tuitubou says that Cikamatana was trained at the Oceania Academy in Noumea under the guidance of Paul Coffa.
He adds that government had issued four grants to fund overseas tours for elite athletes to attend international events, fund the hosting of international tournaments including Oceania and some annual events, fund international coaches to provide coaching develop the sport and offer scholarships for elite athletes to train overseas.
SODELPA MP, Aseri Radrodro also questioned Tuitubou if there are any plans to localize the set-up of weightlifting so that the sport can be grown in Fiji.
Tuitubou says that this comes under the short expert grant to bring in experts which they can set up locally so they can training elite athletes and also train local coaches to develop the sport.
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